How a Job on a Ship Changed My Assumptions as a Senior
I surprised even myself by taking on a new challenge
Recently I shocked myself. An opportunity came up that I had never considered. And if it had, I know my response in the past would have been a resounding No f-ing way!
But there I was, solidly into what I thought was retirement from work and adventure, saying the opposite. A resounding YES. I had to remind myself of a mantra I have often said out loud but not always truly believed: Never say never.
A few weeks ago, I returned from a month working on a small ship travelling from the Arctic to eastern Canada. My job was as a cook for a crew of seven or eight, more when we had guests. The opportunity arose because my husband had worked there for several years as a First Officer. One of the previous cooks had to disembark for health reasons and a spot appeared for me.
I had all the feelings one might have when undertaking something new: anxiety, fear, trepidation, worry. You get the drift. And yet, I decided to do it anyway. It reminded me of standing at the top of a ski hill when I was young. The mixture of adrenaline along with the knowledge that there was a thrill awaiting and the possibility of injury.
